The Ministry of Community Development organized an introductory workshop titled "An Inclusive Environment for People of Determination” during which it discussed various topics including defining accessible work environment for people of determination and its impact on their wellbeing,
The Ministry of Community Development organized an introductory workshop titled "An Inclusive Environment for People of Determination” during which it discussed various topics including defining accessible work environment for people of determination and its impact on their wellbeing, the best international standards and specifications for an inclusive environment ensuring an easy and safe environment, as well as the challenges that people of determination may face. The workshop was attended by representatives from relevant entities and institutions involved in employing people of determination from "hearing impaired" category.
The workshop coincides with the UAE's 49th celebration of the Arab Deaf Week 2024 between 20-27 April entitled (Providing suitable job opportunities for deaf men and women in public and private sectors).
Easy & Smooth Arrangements
The workshop identified easy and smooth arrangements in accessible work environment that enable people of determination employees perform their assigned tasks, collaborate with colleagues, and benefit equally with their peers from rewards and privileges, including career advancement and promotions, without imposing high or unreasonable adjustment costs on the employer or organization, or challenges that may disrupt workflow. People of determination individuals are considered eligible for the job if they possess the necessary skills, experience, and educational level to perform the job tasks and fulfil the job requirements, whether with or without reasonable arrangements, appropriate modifications, or without them.
The workshop highlighted several relevant facts, including the absence of a comprehensive list so far of the necessary adjustments based on each disability, workplace, or job. It also pointed out that the modifications needed for individuals with motor disabilities differ from those needed for individuals with visual impairments. Moreover, it is often the employee who determines the nature of adjustments or reasonable accommodation arrangements and effective solutions required. Furthermore, adjustments do not imply providing people of determination with personal use tools, cancelling or changing essential tasks, or lowering standards. Additionally, these adjustments do not involve creating jobs specifically for people of determination.
Important Recommendations
The workshop discussed various types of accessible work environment that are non-technological, allowing for less cost-effective modifications or very low-cost adjustments that do not require the use of tools or devices. These arrangements range from low-tech adjustments involving the use of simple, inexpensive, and useful technological tools in the workplace to high-tech arrangements, which include the use of high-tech tools and devices such as screen-reading software for the visually impaired or speech synthesis devices.
The "Accessible Environment for People of Determination" workshop concluded with a number of recommendations approved by the participating specialists including the importance of introducing enforced legislations in the field of accessible work environment and reasonable accommodations, involving people of determination in proposing solutions and arrangements without delaying or postponing requests for accommodations or modifications, identifying options, pinpointing missing information, and resources, applying the most effective and beneficial solutions as well as relying on credible information when selecting modifications, providing simple and uncomplicated solutions, keeping people of determination employees informed at all stages of providing modifications. It is crucial to document all information, steps, and stages.